Must-Try Delicacies in Hundred-Mile Azalea Scenic Area

Thanks to the well-preserved ecological environment, Hundred-Mile Azalea boasts eco-friendly food as well as traditional ethnic dishes of the minority groups. The specialties include Yi-style cubed meat, Yi fermented tofu, wild mushrooms, wild fruits and vegetables, mountain medicinal herbs, and Yi flower preserves. A full range of home-style Yi snacks are served here, allowing visitors to savour delicious food while experiencing primitive ethnic customs.

Most restaurants are located near the entrances of each scenic spot. Local Yi women also sell homemade snacks inside the scenic area, such as corn, cucumbers, sugarcane, peanuts and boiled eggs at affordable prices.

Potatoes, flour, pickled vegetables and chili peppers — such simple ingredients can create amazing flavours. Diners comment that the cakes are crispy, tasty and leave a lingering aftertaste. Every morning, Liu Hui gets up early to make a fire and prepare ingredients before starting her busy day of cooking.

First, peel, wash and dice the potatoes. Next, mix the potato dices with flour evenly. Then heat oil in a pan. Pour the potato batter into round moulds and deep-fry until golden brown. Take them out, and dip in pre-prepared pickled vegetables and chilli sauce. The sizzling sound and inviting aroma easily attract passers-by.

The key to this snack lies in the pickled vegetables, which need to be fermented one week in advance. The heat must be strictly controlled to keep the vegetables crisp instead of mushy. Proper dough mixing and chilli sauce preparation are also essential. With more than ten years of experience, Liu Hui makes these cakes so delicious that people cannot stop eating them.

Address: Lache Village, Shachang Township Tel: 15117579348

Wrap mashed potatoes with rice paper, coat them with egg liquid, then roll them in breadcrumbs and deep-fry until golden. This crispy treat is a popular local favourite.

Address: Yongxing Village, Pudi Township Tel: 0857-5680567

This traditional Yi sweet rice wine from Pudi Township is brewed from premium glutinous rice using ancient fermentation techniques. It is sweet and nutritious. People cook glutinous rice balls or eggs with it. It is the primary nourishing drink for Yi women after childbirth to promote lactation.

Address: Pudi Township Tel: 0857-5680567

High-quality soybeans are made into tofu, then layered with straw and left to mould naturally for two days. The product is homemade and sold directly by the producer.

Address: Pengcheng Management Zone Tel: 15286564102

This dish uses hand-made earthen casseroles, local black goats, dozens of Chinese medicinal herbs and seasonings. Made from green ingredients with a secret recipe, the noodles stay warm and flavourful for a long time. They help invigorate the stomach and spleen. Spicy, bright-coloured, fresh and not greasy, the noodles are loved by local residents and tourists alike.

Address: Pengcheng Management Zone Tel: 13922517199

Mix freshly rendered lard with stir-fried local chillies, green onions, garlic and sesame oil to make dipping sauce. Spread home-pressed rapeseed oil on an earthen casserole, bake the Zaigong farmhouse tofu, then dip it into the chilli sauce. It tastes wonderful and is very popular among visitors.

Address: Pengcheng Management Zone Tel: 15086302111

This dish features tender tofu pudding paired with chicken. It looks plain yet tastes fresh and aromatic.

Address: Pengcheng Management Zone Tel: 13638197205

Potato starch creates rich flavour. When cooked together with fresh pork ribs, the dish gives off an irresistible fragrance. Mixed with pounded chilli paste, ginger, garlic, oyster sauce and seasonings, it becomes an extremely delicious feast.

Address: Yongxing Village, Pudi Township Tel: 0857-5680567

On Qingming Festival, when people go spring outing, tender mallow shoots sway gently in the wind. Their soft white fuzz feels as smooth as a baby’s skin. People pick the young shoots to make glutinous herb cakes. The refreshing sweet fragrance brings back happy childhood memories.

Address: Pengcheng Management Zone Tel: 0857-4880018

The malt candy from Lianfeng Village is a centuries-old traditional snack in Pudi Township. It is slowly simmered with local high-quality corn and fresh malt, featuring natural sweetness. You can add walnuts to make walnut candy or spin it into flaky candy. It has an excellent texture and is perfect for leisure time.

Address: Lianfeng Village, Pudi Township Tel: 13638162034